AMD FM1 Socket, Package Pictured

[seriousjack85]

AMD's new Socket FM1.


Looks like AMD is following INTEL's path by changing its Socket so often now!!

 

[DragonQ]

To be fair, it's a fairly radical design change. I'm surprised they are able to keep a semi-AM3-compatible socket for their higher end Bulldozer parts.

 

[SparkyG]

I may just have to wait for the upgarde if AM3 is on its way out already

 

[Azuse05]

Am3s been around for some time and will continue to be with a far better upgrade route/choices intel simply haven't provided. Anyway, apus won't become of serious interest to discreet graphics owners until next year, at the earliest, and they are aimed at budget conscious businesses.

It's a huge design change though, and honestly, you shouldn't expect any less. Laptops however look to improve if this followed the performance trend of fusion netbooks.

 

[scrlk]

AMD's new Socket FM1.


Looks like AMD is following INTEL's path by changing its Socket so often now!!

Well you do have to consider that even though AMD changes sockets, it still tries to retain backwards compatibility unlike Intel. This has been going on from the AM2 days. Newer AM3 boards have support for AM3+ CPUs. To keep this level of backwards compatibility is somewhat of an achievement IMO.

EDIT:
To quote Wikipedia (take with a pinch of salt):
Socket AM2+

Main article: Socket AM2+

Socket AM2+ is an intermediate successor to socket AM2, which features split power planes, and HyperTransport 3.0. Socket AM2+ chips can plug into a socket AM2 motherboard (although certain motherboard manufacturers do not support this), but operate only with HyperTransport 2.0. AM2 CPUs are no longer manufactured, and are usually only available second hand.

Socket AM3

Main article: Socket AM3

Socket AM3 processors are able to run on Socket AM2 and AM2+ motherboards with appropriate bios updates, but not vice-versa. AM3 processors have a new memory controller supporting both DDR2 and DDR3 SDRAM, allowing backwards compatibility with AM2 and AM2+ motherboards. Since AM2 and AM2+ processors lack the new memory controller, they will not work on AM3 motherboards.